Short word

The Netherlands is a strange country, the police search with 50 people churching for a puma that’s walking around in a Dutch park (The Veluwe). Ok it isn’t normal that he walks around in nature here, but way do you want to kill him. Other thing is that a danger guy is walking already for one week around in our country before they put him on television; they found him after he killed old men from 80 years and was walking around in the men’s house. Why didn’t they kill him?

Tonight I went for a drink to Jan; he’s living two blocks further since a few months. Great thing about him is that he found his love on the internet, sound stupid but I think it’s perfect. Like Lenore and me they mail and call each other everyday and I’m sure that they found their love. In 2 ½ weeks he take the plane to Jakarta (Indonesia) where he meet Melanie, her daughter and family. I know that they get a great time with each other, especially when they fly to Bali for holiday.

These days

Yesterday evening I went to Mando for a beer, I didn’t saw him for a month so I though it was time.
This morning I got a wake with a drill in my mouth, yes I was sitting in the dentist chair. I had 40 minutes to climb out the chair and go to Vriezenveen; a client need fire protection at his hardware store whose 30,000 square meter. It took me 3 hours to walk through the whole building.
Conclusion when I drive to the office I have only 1 ½ hour to help Erwin finish the project, I need to drive away on time because the soccer games tonight. So before I know I picked up Vincent, drive to the bus stop, take the bus to the train station and get to the Arke Stadium. First Argentina was playing against Egypt (2-0). USA against Germany (0-0), funny detail: All the Dutch people where standing behind the USA team and the sound got louder when the German supporters start to sing.

End of the weekend

It’s still cold today, I got a phone call from Marloes And Vincent where I was. Still in my bed because they waked me up, so I pick them up after a quick shower. What did we today, while Vincent and I where playing Risk for almost the whole day. Webmaster Mloesje was sitting relax on the couch and playing with the internet. I brought them home after 6pm and just finish my meal while looking at Formula 1. Timmy Raikkonen won the race before Michel Schumacher this time. Tonight I try to sleep eraly because this week I get it busy with work and the rest of the soccer games.

First game

Vincent and I drove this afternoon to the soccer game. The Fifa try to search at any person who wants to come in. Results, a lot of people game in the stadium after the first kick. Argentina – USA was a good game to see, the USA won with 1 – 0, Chad Barret scored in the 38^th minute. Freddy Adu (see picture) mist the penalty. Germany – Egypt was at half time 0 – 0, Vincent I where both tired so we went home.

Tennis can be dangerous

I start early this Saturday, Erwin told me yesterday on the phone that we have still many projects to finish next week. Their where are, at the office but the strange thing was that his right ear was pact with bandage. He told me last month that he stopped with soccer because he damaged his right knee.Well now he can be happy with his new sport, I tried to get the ball. He did but there was a steel construction standing in the way and opened his ear. Ok now I have a good excuse to scream to him.

Back home

I’m home since this afternoon; I took the train from Schiphol (Amsterdam airport) to Enschede.

The first thing I did was taking a shower, a short look on the emails and a nap. Try to wake up Lenore for her start of the day but she waked me up. Afterwards it was time to my appointment at the dentist, pick up my contact lens and of course visiting the supermarket. Tonight it’s time for a short visit to Gertie and Martine because I want to get ready for tomorrow. Start on the office between 8am-12am with Erwin. In the afternoon it’s time for the World Youth Soccer Games.

Vincent and I want to visit every game in the Arke Stadium and have al the cards already till on of the quarter finals.

Lenore behind the wall of glass

Our honeymoon is over and I hope too see her soon, in August we should be camping in Switzerland with Marloes and Vincent. I can’t wait.
Hopefully I can see her family soon and learn more about them.

Yep it’s a US rule, al the flights from Canada are separate behind a wall off glass.
So after she went trough the customers I check myself in at the KLM desk and they overt me a pass for the KLM Lounge. After I went to customers I try to walk directly to her gate.
Their she was standing behind window with a glass of chardonnay and the cell phone so we could talk for a few minutes. Afterwards I walked to the lounge where I’m sitting now, chatting with Marloes, talking to the Lenore on her cell phone and enjoy my internet with a nice glass of French white wine. I waved to her when she past the lounge but I don’t know if she saw me. She was sitting on this side of the plane, so I wait till she lift off at 14.46pm.Time for another wine and chatting with a old college while I’m finish this talk.

Toronto Science Centre

Our Science day and last day was very nice, with a bunch of kids we make are own roller coaster. The Toronto Science Centre has a lot of different things to explorer, not only for kids but also for Big Kids like us. How soft you can land on your feet (like a cat) when you jump from a platform etc. As bonus we went to the Imax theatre with the big screen who’s in the same building, we saw ocean men. Ocean men was about Pipi Ferrera who’s a Free Diver, it’s a extreme sport where they try go down as deep as they can without breath equipment. In the movie the record came on 162 metre (540 feet), great movie I can tell you.
Tonight we walked to the Days Inn if Stephen and Alex where still there but we couldn’t find them, afterwards I start the computer on we got their email what said that the where already at the Niagara Falls. Well of course we went out for dinner and came after a few Shopping Malls at the Hot House Café again, a delicious meal I can tell.I think this our story from the honeymoon, its time to go home and wait for the papers.

Lunch time

If you travel so far to a city like Toronto for your honeymoon and there is something big as Niagara Falls. Go there because you must seen this, even if its sounds like Disney Land.I’m not a big fan of organised tours but this was the best options to go, they pick us up at the hotel with of course a few more stops. In 90 minutes we where there and make a tour on the boat down the Falls. Lenore and I decide not to have a buffet with the tour group but fid it out for us self. We went to the Hard Rock Café for lunch and looked in their shop, overprized T-shirts. After this we went with the group above the falls named Canadian Horse Shoe and stopped in the small town called Niagara on the lake where we saw a Christmas Store. On our way back home Bill (the driver) make a stop at a winery where we had samples from their wine. At the time we came back we didn’t had the time for dinner at the CN-Tower so went to the Brown Stone Bistro on Young street. They had great Sangria’s so that was a nice time to have dinner with Lenore on her birthday.

Lunch time, so we went to the Hard Rock Cafe.

Lenore and Jimmie

On the stairs of the Hard Rock Cafe Lenore meets Hendriks.

The Canadian Horse Shoe

From the top of the Falls

Niagara Falls

Yep it's me on the boat at the Niagara Falls

Lenore in the Mirror

This is from the Casa Loma castle in Toronto. Its huge. It was built around 1912, the man Henry Pellett and his wife Mary built it and only lived in it for 9 years. Then Henry's financial shennagans caught up with him- he had managed to get a 30 year contract with the city of Toronto to provide the electrical lighting for the city, but that got taken away when the contract came under public domain. Meanwhile, Henry had overleveraged himself using the contract holding to borrow huge amounts of money. The castle took 3 years to build, had stuff like an indoor pool, multiple bedrooms (it was a hotel for a few years after Henry and Mary had to vacate), plans for a bowling alley, a 800-ft underground tunnel to the stables (which were incredibly lavish, and not to be confused with the garage), and a room with intricately carved paneling which took 3 master craftsmen in England 3 years to carve, after which they were shipped off to ole Henry.
The brochure describes him as an "unabashed romatic"but I think he was probably Ken Lays mentor.
Paul took this wonderfully artistic photo in Lady Mary's sitting room. It is probably about the size of most of my upstairs in my house.
Too bad he never got to finish the bowling alley. There was a smoking room adjacent to the game room, which had a huge carved pool table imported from Italy. It was sold at auction.
The gardens were wonderful, and the views from the towers were awesome.
We had a bonus ride on the transit system. When we came out of the subway station, we got on a bus going the opposite direction from where we wanted to go. So we just got off after awhile, and crossed the street, and went back. since we had day passes, no more money needed. We saw WAAAAAAAY out in the 'burbs.
Today was HOT and windy, there were thunderstorms predicted, but no luck.

For breakfast (around 11am) we went to the Brown Stone bistro. Really good food, and really good sangria. We ordered just a glass each. The waitress asked if we wanted a pitcher, but we deferred. Well, the sangria was so good, and it was so hot, we ended up ordering another glass each. Puts a nice glow on a hot day.
Now we are off to find something for dinner.

Saturday update

Saturday morning, we didn’t left early but walked all the way to Kensington Market.Gert told me last week that this is a very nice area to look at the small shops and restaurants from different nationalities. My feet where already swollen so we took our first streetcar to the museum. During our walk further there was a drum festival in Queens park and there where also different kind of food. After our walk back to the hotel we stops at different bars, the second and the last one was the lobby of the Days Inn Hotel where we mat Steven and Alex from Wales. Only problems was that Steven and I got really drunk from al the beers, so this morning I had problem with coffee. Lenore had the medicine; Paul we go to the Hot House Café for breakfast, its on Church street not to far. Right the walk took at least 30 minutes.

We went with a full belly on the streetcar 501 to the East Beaches where we stayed for a few hour. From there to H&M on Bloor, a CD-shop and Star Bucks. Yes for the first time in my life to a Star Bucks and did the Cappuccino test. I can tell you it sucks, sorry no more coffee from them.

Grolsch Ad

dscn5920

On our way to Hot House Cafe we found this, jammie

Saturday Morning

Yesterday I was to tired that Lenore was writing the blog, still a little problem with the time difference. So I looked at the Blog and saw that see something missed, the ZOO.
After breakfast at the Daybreak, only two blocks away from the hotel we took the Subway to Kennedy Station. From there we took the bus to the Toronto Zoo where we walked around in different area’s like Australia, Americas, Canada and Africa. The Zoo is really big when you compare it with one in the Netherlands, lucky we didn’t see all the screaming kids.
In the new areas the animals get enough space but the old one can be better. So what’s up for the day, well we still have some museums to go. There is enough to see here in this beautiful green filled city, and don’t forget all the delicious restaurants.
Coming back on the CN-tower restaurant, we had a glass of Ontario Chardonnay. Pity is that they don’t know what temperature it must be (way too warm). We went to a pub named Friar & Firkin for dinner because the people from the museum gave us a tip. I can tell you that the house Chardonnay was better than upstairs in the tower.

CN Tower

Here I am sitting on a glass floor about a million miles upin the air in the CN tower. I didn't think I was that afraid of heights, but when I couldn't walk out on this glass floor easily - wow! it was scary. I finally did stand on it for a minute, but sitting was easier. But I had a hard time walking off of it. Paul stood easily, and sat for a photo. Must be his climbing experience. And there were kids JUMPING on this floor, which didn't really scare me all that much. I just kept thinking " this would be a really really bad time for an earthquake".
We didn't go up to the sky pod observation deck a few floor higher because there was a big extra charge for that. I think we saw a lot. We called Pauls mom and dad from the Cn tower, Bep was not there, but talked to Tony. Since Paul called from the top of the Empire State building, seemed like we should call again.
Then we went to the cafe on the same floor as the glass bottom floor, had a glass of Canadian Chardonney (was ok, not great) and then had dinner in a pub on John's Street, just down from Queen's Street. Good food, we were really hungry since we hadn't eaten since breakfast except some ice cream at the zoo.
Then back to the Primrose, where our non-smoking room is pretty smelly. Luckily, the windows open.
A nice warm day in Toronto, great to be together.

Paul and Lenore getting an Art Education

Well, here we are in the Toronto Art Museum in the sculpture hall. We don't get it. Too weird for us. We only could see about 2 sculptures that looked anything like the titles, and that didn't include the ones called stuff like 'number 152'or whatever.
The rest of the museum was pretty interesting. A lot of it was under construction, so only a few rooms were open. We saw a special exhibit "the shape of colour" that had some intersting stuff, most to avant gaurde for me. Like the big square black painting with a stripe of yellow running down the right hand side of it called "Yellow Edge". Duh.
Then we went to the CN tower. See next posting.
Lenore

Toronto

Enschede to Amsterdam Airport. During this trip I had a few time contacts with Lenore who’s in the air right now. Plenty time to bring my luggage to the KLM drop point, with my e-ticket I had the chance to check-in yesterday. I have still 90 minutes before they aspect me on the gate, till that time I’m sitting at Sandwich Island in the middle of the airport. Enjoy my cappuccino and a salmon sandwich. I saw on the internet this morning that the weather in Toronto has a temperature from 68° Fahrenheit.

I had a good flight from 7 ½ hours, the immigration people where very friendly and outside was somebody waiting. I survive the crunch test from Lenore and walked outside to the bus stop. We took bus 192 to Kipling Subway station, jumped in the train till we get downtown.
Know it was only 500 metre walk to our hotel.
We got a room at the 17th floor where we have a nice few at the CN Tower.

I install the laptop after a good shower (it was time) and just looked on my email. Of course we walked around the hotel to see something from Toronto, we start at Yong street, there are many shops and restaurants. We choose the Thai restaurant for dinner, they had a small terrace where you can enjoy the food and the wine from Ontario District. The clock past already 7.30am local time and I’m awake while Lenore is still sleeping.She had a long day, first work for 12 hour and 3 hours later you are travelling from San Francisco to Toronto.
It's time for a cop of coffee so we can start hour day and you know what, Lenore is never leaving California with Peet's Coffee.

Nine hours

A short message on the blog, I had dinner at Gert place and went downtown for a drink.

He had some nice tips for Toronto, I’m ready to go. Lenore and I are leaving on the same time from our home. Can’t wait to see her and let crunch myself. Time to take a nap, I leave my house and how can I better sleep after the referendum today. 62% are against the constitution.

Well people, the next blog is from out the hotel room.